Protagonist's Tyrannosaur stomps into US, Canada deals

Protagonist Pictures has sold Paddy Considine’s Sundance award winner Tyrannosaur to Strand Releasing for the US and D Films for Canada.

The film screens at the EFM today and on Sunday.

Since Sundance, Protagonist has also sold the film to Wild Bunch for Benelux, and Front Row Filmed Entertainment for the Middle East. Distributors already in place include Optimum Releasing for the UK, Madman for Australia and New Zealand, and Non Stop Entertainment for Scandinavia.

At Sundance, the film won World Cinema Directing Award, Dramatic, and World Cinema Special Jury Prize, Dramatic, for Breakout Performances by Peter Mullan and Olivia Colman.

Mullan plays a rage-filled man who meets a charity shop worker (Colman) who hides a secret about her husband (Eddie Marsan).

Actor Considine (Dead Man’s Shoes, The Bourne Ultimatum) started the story with his short film Dog Altogether before making his feature directorial debut with Tyrannosaur.

The deals were negotiated by Ben Roberts, Charlotte Van Weede and Simon Osborn for Protagonist, Jon Gerrans and Marcus Hu, Co-Presidents for Strand Releasing; Jim Sherry, President and CEO for D Films; Pim Hermeling CEO for Wild Bunch Benelux; and Gianluca Chakra, CEO and Managing Director for Front Row.

Diarmid Scrimshaw produced Tyrannosaur, which is a Warp X and Inflammable Films presentation, backed by Film4, the UK Film Council, Screen Yorkshire, Optimum Releasing, EM Media, Madman and Nonstop Entertainment.